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Short Notes Biological Classification - Short Notes for NEET
Five Kingdom Classification (R.H. Whittaker, 1969)
| Criteria | Basis |
|---|---|
| Cell structure | Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic |
| Body organization | Unicellular vs Multicellular |
| Mode of nutrition | Autotrophic vs Heterotrophic |
| Phylogenetic relationships | Evolutionary relatedness |
Kingdom Monera
Characteristics:- Prokaryotic, unicellular
- Cell wall: peptidoglycan (bacteria) or absent (mycoplasma)
- No membrane-bound organelles
- Reproduction: asexual (binary fission, budding, spores); primitive sexual reproduction (DNA transfer)
Bacteria:
- Shapes: Coccus (spherical), Bacillus (rod), Vibrio (comma), Spirillum (spiral)
- Nutrition: Autotrophic (photosynthetic/chemosynthetic) or Heterotrophic (saprophytic/parasitic/symbiotic)
- Archaebacteria: Live in extreme conditions (halophiles, thermoacidophiles, methanogens); different cell wall structure
- Eubacteria: True bacteria
(i) Cyanobacteria: Photosynthetic, blue-green algae; have chlorophyll a; N₂ fixation (heterocysts); examples: Nostoc, Anabaena
(ii) Mycoplasma: Smallest living cells, no cell wall, pathogenic; example: cause pneumonia - Importance: Nitrogen fixation (Rhizobium), curd formation (Lactobacillus), antibiotics (Streptomyces), decomposers, pathogens
Kingdom Protista
Characteristics:- Eukaryotic, mostly unicellular
- Aquatic habitat
- Some have cell wall, some have pellicle
- Link between plants, animals, and fungi
Groups:
(i) Chrysophytes: Diatoms and golden algae
- Diatoms: cell wall with silica (diatomaceous earth); two overlapping shells (soap box arrangement)
- Chief producers in oceans
(ii) Dinoflagellates:
- Two flagella (one longitudinal, one transverse in furrow)
- Cell wall with cellulosic plates
- Red tides: Red dinoflagellates (e.g., Gonyaulax) rapid multiplication; release toxins
- Mostly marine, photosynthetic
(iii) Euglenoids:
- Freshwater; protein-rich pellicle (no cell wall)
- Two flagella (one short, one long)
- Photosynthetic in sunlight, heterotrophic in dark
- Pigments: chlorophyll a and b
- Example: Euglena
(iv) Slime Moulds:
- Saprophytic on decaying matter
- Plasmodium: multinucleate mass of protoplasm
- Form fruiting bodies with spores in unfavorable conditions
(v) Protozoans: Heterotrophic, primitive animals
- Amoeboid: Pseudopodia for movement; e.g., Amoeba, Entamoeba (causes dysentery)
- Flagellated: Flagella for movement; e.g., Trypanosoma (sleeping sickness)
- Ciliated: Cilia for movement; e.g., Paramecium (has gullet for food intake)
- Sporozoans: Spore-forming; no locomotory organs; e.g., Plasmodium (malaria)
Kingdom Fungi
Characteristics:- Eukaryotic, heterotrophic (saprophytic, parasitic, symbiotic)
- Cell wall: chitin and polysaccharides
- Body: thallus made of hyphae; network = mycelium
- Coenocytic hyphae: Multinucleate, continuous without septa
- Septate hyphae: Septa with pores
- Reproduction: vegetative (fragmentation, budding), asexual (spores: zoospores, conidia, sporangiospores), sexual (oospores, ascospores, basidiospores)
Classification:
| Class | Features | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Phycomycetes | Algal fungi; aquatic/moist places; coenocytic mycelium; asexual (zoospores/aplanospores); sexual (zygospore) | Mucor, Rhizopus (bread mould), Albugo (parasitic) |
| Ascomycetes | Sac fungi; saprophytic/parasitic/coprophilous; septate mycelium; asexual (conidia); sexual (ascospores in ascus) | Aspergillus, Penicillium, Claviceps (ergot), Neurospora, Yeast (unicellular) |
| Basidiomycetes | Club fungi; saprophytic/parasitic; septate mycelium; asexual spores absent; sexual (basidiospores on basidium); fruiting bodies (basidiocarp) | Agaricus (mushroom), Ustilago (smut), Puccinia (rust) |
| Deuteromycetes | Imperfect fungi (sexual stage unknown); septate mycelium; asexual (conidia); also called fungi imperfecti | Alternaria, Colletotrichum, Trichoderma |
Importance: Food (mushroom, yeast), antibiotics (Penicillin), fermentation, decomposers, plant diseases
Lichens
- Symbiotic association between algae (autotrophic) and fungi (heterotrophic)
- Algal component: phycobiont; Fungal component: mycobiont
- Fungi: provides shelter, absorbs minerals; Algae: prepares food
- Pioneer species on bare rocks; very sensitive to SO₂ (pollution indicators)
- Examples: Graphis, Parmelia, Cladonia
Viruses
Characteristics:- Non-cellular; between living and non-living
- Obligate intracellular parasites
- Made of protein coat (capsid) + genetic material (DNA or RNA, never both)
- Crystallized outside host; active inside host
Discovery: D.J. Ivanowsky (1892) - TMV (Tobacco Mosaic Virus) in tobacco plants
M.W. Beijerinek coined term "virus" (= venom/poison)
W.M. Stanley crystallized TMV
Types:
- Plant viruses: Single stranded RNA; e.g., TMV, Potato virus, Cauliflower mosaic virus
- Animal viruses: DNA or RNA; e.g., Adenovirus, Influenza, HIV, Hepatitis
- Bacteriophages: Viruses infecting bacteria; DNA viruses; e.g., T2, T4, λ phage
- Diseases: Mumps, smallpox, herpes, influenza, AIDS, common cold, polio
Viroids
- Discovered by T.O. Diener (1971)
- Smaller than viruses; free RNA only (no protein coat)
- Infectious agents; low molecular weight RNA
- Cause plant diseases: Potato spindle tuber disease, Chrysanthemum stunt
Prions
- Infectious proteinaceous particles
- Cause diseases in animals: Scrapie (sheep), BSE - Mad cow disease, CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease) in humans
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FAQs on Short Notes Biological Classification - Short Notes for NEET
| 1. What is biological classification? |  |
Ans. Biological classification, also known as taxonomy, is the scientific method of categorising living organisms into groups based on shared characteristics and evolutionary relationships. This system helps in identifying, naming, and classifying organisms systematically.
| 2. Who is known as the father of taxonomy? | |
Ans. Carl Linnaeus is known as the father of taxonomy. He developed the binomial nomenclature system, which assigns each species a two-part scientific name consisting of the genus and species, enhancing clarity and consistency in naming organisms.
| 3. What are the main taxonomic ranks in biological classification? | |
Ans. The main taxonomic ranks in biological classification, from broadest to most specific, are Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species. Each rank represents a level of organisation and helps in understanding the relationships between different organisms.
| 4. What is the significance of the binomial nomenclature? | |
Ans. The binomial nomenclature is significant because it provides a universally accepted system for naming organisms. Each species is given a unique two-part name that avoids confusion caused by common names, facilitating clear communication among scientists globally.
| 5. How do scientists determine the classification of organisms? | |
Ans. Scientists determine the classification of organisms through various methods, including morphological analysis (study of structure), genetic analysis (DNA sequencing), and ecological factors (habitat and behaviour). These methods help establish evolutionary relationships and provide a comprehensive understanding of biodiversity.
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